Refrigerator car construction



Sept. 29, v1942. l c. D. BONSALL 2,296,899

REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCT ION Filed May 16, 1940 5 Shes ts-Sheet l [nz/enior.- Charles Bonsall Sept 29, 1942- c. D. BoNsALL 2,296,899k

REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 16, 1940 5 SheetS-Sheet 2 A Inventor: '/zarles Dl-onsall f A n.9- y v wr@ SePt- 29 1942- c. D. BONSALL 2,296,899

REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 16,` 1940 3 sheets-sheet :s

Inventor: F29 j] Charles!) Bonsall Patented Sept. 29, 1942 REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Charles D. Bonsall, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Standard Railway Devices Company, a corporation of Delaware Application May 16,

13 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to transport perishable commodities at a predetermined temperature. The essential features of a refrigerator car are an insulated body to prevent or retard ingress of heat during warm weather and egress of heat during cold weathei, and a cooling means and a heating means to be used during warm and cold weather respectively.

This invention applies particularly to cars in which the cooling means, preferably containers for water ice, eutectic ice, brine or dry ice, are disposed immediately below the roof of the car. The lading is supported in spaced relation to the floor by a foraminous rack. Flues, preferably associated with the side walls of the car, comunicate between the cooling means and the space under the floor rack to provide a path for the circulation of air. The path is from the cooling means downwardly through the aforementioned flues, through the space under the floor rack, upwardly through the lading compartment thereby cooling the lading, and finally to the cooling means from where the cycle is repeated.

An object of the invention is to provide means to prevent surging of the liquid refrigerant within the refrigerant container during service movements of the car,

A refrigerant container used in a car of this type is commonly provided with apertures spaced a substantial distance above the bottom of the container for overflow of liquid from the container as described in Bonsall Patent No. 2,168,- 556 of August 8, 1939. A further object, consequently, is to prevent the loss of an excessive amount of refrigerant through the overflow apertures. I disclose herein two methods of preventing such excessive loss of liquid refrigerant:

First, by the provision of a relatively small channel communicating with the interior of the container and apertures communicating between the channel and the exterior of the container so that small quantities of liquid refrigerant may escape from the channel but large quantities are retained in the container.

Second, by the provision of the overflow apertures in the central portion of the container rather than in the end portions. The liquid re-` frigerant within the refrigerant container surges lengthwise of the container during service movements of the car and builds up against the end wall of the container. The liquid when in this position would overflow in large quantities through the apertures if such apertures were in the end portions of the container. Surge retarding means, such as an upstanding baille. is prefer- 1940, Serial No. 335,445

(Cl. (i2- 17) ably positioned opposite the apertures to reduce the possibility of large waves of surging refrigerant being thrown through the apertures.

Another object is to provide a reinforcement for the bottom of the tank, which reinforcement also functions as a baiiie means to retard surging of a liquid refrigerant as hereinabove pointed out. A further object is to arrange such bafiie means and reinforcement to have sufcient stability to resist lateral movement of the refrigerant.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with the reinforcing and baffle means, provisions for retaining substantially equal liquid levels in all parts of the container.

A further object is to provide a refrigerant container which may be economically manufactured. I show in one modification a container comprising a liquid retaining tank made of substantially thin metallic sheet and a support for such tank made of relatively heavy structural members. The advantages of such construction are that the thin tank may be made from standard galvanized or corronized sheets which effectively resist corrosion and avoid the disadvantage of the poor bond sometimes existing between the steel and zinc in hot dipped galvanized material; the reinforcement may be either hot dipped galvanized after assembly or used in the ungalvanized condition. Another advantage of such construction is that the thin tank, being of substantially uniform thickness in all parts, may be hot dipped galvanized after assembly without the danger of warping which is present when structures consisting of relatively thin and relatively thick parts are gal- Vanized.

Another object is to provide a combination reinforcing and baille means which consists of an inverted channel member secured at both flanges thereof to the bottom of the container and to provide apertures in said bottom below the channel so that moisture condensed upon the interior of the walls of the channel may be drained off without corroding the channel.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description by referring to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial transverse section of a refrigerator car embodying one modification of my invention. i

Fig. 2 is a section through the refrigerant container of Fig. 1 as indicated by the line 2 2.

Fig. 3 is a plan View with certain parts broken away of the refrigeant container shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through a mod ined form of refrigerant container.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the cradle type support and the liquid retaining tank, respectively, of the container shown in Figs, 4 and 5.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through another modied form of refrigerant container.

Fig, 9 is a plan view of the container shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. i3 is a longitudinal elevational View of another modified form of refrigerant container.

Fig. ll is a horizontal section on line ll-ll of Fig. l.

The general parts Of the refrigerator car shown in Fig.` l are insulated roof A; side walls B; oor D; refrigerant containers E; hatches F for loading refrigerant into the containers EL; side wall flues G; foraminous oor rack H and space J between the rack H and the floor D. A refrigerant container F` is positioned directly below the roof A and adjacent a side wall B. A drip pan K is provided below the container E and a partition L is disposed in an upstanding position at the edge of the drip pan K. The drip pan K and the partition L cooperate with the:

roof A and the upper part of side wall B to form an enclosure M around the container E, an air inlet opening N to the enclosure M being provided by spacing the partition L from the roof A. An air discharge opening P leads from the enclosure lvl to the flue G at a lower elevation than the air inlet opening N. Cars of this type commonly have a row of refrigerant containers E near each side wall B, which containers are spaced apart at the center of the car. The partitions L are also spaced apart to form a duct Q which communicates between the lading compartment R and openings N.

Air circulation. is as follows: Air in the lading compartment R is warmed by contact with the lading and rises through the duct Q to enter the enclosing structures M through the air inlet openings N. The air is then cooled by contact With the cold refrigerant containers E and falls by reason of its lower temperature, and there- .-f"

Each side wall B of the refrigerator car shown in Fig. 1 is comprised of a metal side sill 2, woo-den side sill 3 secured to the metal sill 2 and spaced apart posts 5 opstanding from the wooden sill 3 and attached thereto by means of the longitudinally extending angle 3. IThe side plate 8 is preferably made of woo-d and secured to the upper ends of the posts 5. Side wall insulation blankets 3, lil are disposed on both sides of the posts 5 and the upper edge of the inner blanket 9 is compressed between the angle l5 and the cleats lil, thereby supporting the inner blanket s.

Metallic flue sheets l5 having outwardly projecting panels il formed therein are secured at their upper edges I3 to the cleats lil. Side wall lining 2t is secured in flatwise relation with the flue sheets l5, thereby forming the side wall flues G between the panels l1 and the lining The side Wall sheathing 22 extends between and is secured to the side plate 8, and side sill 3. The

outer insulation blanket I0 is clamped between the sheathing 23 and side plate B. Spaced apart carlines 23 which, in the modification shown are Ibeams, extend between the opposite side walls B of the car and are secured preferably to the posts 5. Brackets 25 are provided for attaching the refrigerant containers E to the carlines 23.

The drip pan K is shown hinged to the side wall B, preferably at the upper edge of the lining 25, and latching means 2 is provided at the center of the car so that the drip pan K may be swung downwardly when it is desired to clean or repair the drip pan K or refrigerant container E. Upstanding marginal members 28 are provided on the transverse edges of the drip pan K. which members extend into inverted channel shaped members 38 secured to the under sides of the carlines 23. The depending flanges 3| of the channel members B rest upon parts of the drip pans K to prevent leakage of liquid through the space 32 `between drip pans K.

In the form of refrigerant container 33 shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the bottom 35 and the side walls 33 are made integral and the end walls 38 are made separately and rigidly secured, preferably by Welding, to the bottom 35 and side walls 35. The top 33 of the container 33 is formed with depending franges lll adapted to align with the side walls 33 and are secured thereto by a relatively removable means, such as rivets or bolts 32. The top 33 is secured to the end walls 38 by similar means. The supporting structure 44 consists of purlins 55 extending lengthwise of the container 33 at the lower corners thereof, which purlins 45 extend slightly beyond the ends of the container 33 and are attached to the brackets 25. Spaced apart U-shape members 4'! are se* cured t0 the purlins 35, which members 41 each comprise a brace 48 subadjacent the bottom 35 of the container and upstanding arms 50 adjacent the side walls 36 of the container. The members -4-11, therefore, form a cradle-like structure lli in which the bottom 35 and side walls 36 of the container rest. The arms 5!) may be secured to the side walls 33 of the container by any suitable means, such as riveting or welding.

A reinforcing means, 53, which also functions as va baille to retard surging of the refrigerant, is secured to the bottom 35 of the container 33. rThe reinforcing means 53 is preferably an inverted channel member 54 secured at both flanges 56 thereof to the bottom 35 of the container and arranged to extend lengthwise of the container (i. e., transversely to the end walls 33) below the hatch F so that refrigerant loaded through the hatch F may fall on both sides of the channel member 54. The ends 5'! of the channel member 5ft are preferably spaced from the end walls 38 of the container so that the liquid level in all Vapertures 60 are limited to approximately the central third of the side wall -Bl of the container 33. The portions 33 of the side walls 35 adjacent each end wall 38 are substantially imperforate so that when a liquid refrigerant surges against the end Walls 38 during service movements of the car, the refrigerant builds up to a considerable depth and the imperforate end portions 63 retain the refrigerant; within the container. The channel member 54 is disposed opposite the overiiow apertures 60, as shown in Fig. 3, to reduce the magnitude of sidewise surging of the refrigerant, thereby reducing the amount of liquid which surges through the overflow apertures 60. The inverted channel member 54 is secured, preferably by Welding along the lower edges of both flanges 56, to the bottom 35 of the container 33. The ends 51 of the channel member 54 are irnperforate to retain liquid within the container. The part 64 of the container bottom 35 which is disposed below the channel member 54 is preferably provided with openings 66 which may be a plurality of relatively small apertures or a continuous slot so that moisture condensed from the air within the channel may drain therefrom, thereby7 preventing corrosion of the channel.

The refrigerant container 10 shown in Figs. 4J? comprises a tank 1I of relatively thin sheet material and a tank supporting cradle-like structure 'I3 for supporting the tank 1 I. In the modification shown, the tank 1I is made with the bottom 14 and both side 16 and end 11 walls all integral; the side and end walls being Welded together at the corners of the tank. rlhe top 19 may be secured to the upper parts of the side and end walls by any suitable means.

The supporting structure 13 comprises spaced apart purlins Si), one disposed adjacent each side wall 'I8 of the tank 1I and arranged to extend beyond the end walls 11 thereof so that the ends 82 of the purlins Sii may be supported within the car. Suitable supporting brackets are shown in Fig. l. A plurality of spaced apart U-shape members 93 span the distance between the purlins 80 and form a cradle structure in which the relatively thin tank 1I is supported. The U- shape members 83 and the side walls 16 of the tank 1I are preferably divergent upwardly so that the tank, due to its own weight and the weight of the refrigerant contained therein, nests snugly into the cradle-like supporting structure 13. Clips may be secured to the U-shape members adjacent the opposite ends of the supporting structure, which clips 85 extend substantially above the lbottom of such members and prevent endwise sliding of the tank 1I within the supporting structure 13.

The container shown in Figs. 4-7 has manufacturing advantages as follows: The relatively thin tank 1| may be either galvanized (by a hot dipping process) after assembly or made from previously galvanized or corronized commercial t sheet, whereas the relatively heavy supporting structure 13 may be galvanized after assembly or used in the ungalvanized condition. In either case, the two piece construction permits treating the tank and supporting structure individually and thereby eliminates the danger of warpage which is present when an attempt is made to galvanize a unit structure having both thick and thin parts.

One or both of the side walls 16 of the tank 1| may be provided with apertures 88 for overflow of liquid refrigerant for the purpose hereinabove pointed out. As shown in Fig. 4, a channel member 89 with the web 9| substantially vertical is secured to one or both of the side walls 16 of the tank 1 I in such a position that the web 9| of the channel member is disposed in spaced relation to the apertures 88. The Web 9| of the channel member prevents large quantities of liquid from surging from within the tank 1| through 75 the apertures 88. The channel member 89 in combination with the side wall 'I6 forms a channel 92 associated with said side wall, which channel 92 is provided with the apertures 88 leading from the channel 92 to the exterior of the container 10. The channel 92 is open at its ends 94 so that liquid may overow from the container 10 through the open ends 94 of the channel 92 and thence through the apertures 88 to the ex, terior of the container. It is pointed out, however, that the maximum amount of liquid which can be lost during any surge is the amount which is retained within the channel 92 and the channel 92 is preferably relatively small in order to minimize the loss of liquid.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the bottom 91 and side walls 98 of the container |00 are formed integral and the end walls IUI are made separate and secured to the bottom 91 and side walls 98, preferably by welding. The top |03 of the container |00 may be formed as shown in Figs. 1-3. The baiiie means |04,v which also reinforces the bottom of the container, is substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 1-3. Fig. 9, however, shows a long slot |06 in the bottom of the container |00 below the baille means |04 in place of the small apertures 66 shown in Fig. 3. The transverse reinforcing members I01 preferably each comprise a brace |09 subjacent the bottom 91 of the container |00 and an upstanding arm III) at each end of the brace I09,the arms being disposed adjacent the side walls 98 of the container 00. Each of such members |01 may be secured to the bottom 91 or side Walls 98 of the container |00 or both. In such a construction the longitudinally extending baffle means |04 cooperates with the transversely extending reinforcing members |01 to form a relatively rigid grid to support the bottom of the container |00.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a modified form of channel |I4 associated with one of the side walls IIS of the container I I5. The channel member I I8 is secured on the outside of the container II5 and is comprised of a vertical web II9 disposed in spaced relation to the side Wall IIB of the container |I5. Flanges |2| of the channel member IIB are secured to the side wall IIB and end closures |22 for the channel ||4 are also secured to the side wall I I6. An aperture |24 is provided near each end of the channel II4 leading from the interior of the container |I5 to the interior of the channel |I4 and a plurality of other apertures |25 are provided at the central part of the channel I4 leading from the interior of the channel I|4 to the exterior of the container ||5. The channel II4 shown in Figs. 10 and 11 prevents excessive overflow of liquid refrigerant in a manner similar to that hereinabove described in reference to Figs. 4 to '7. The channel |I4 is preferably pitched downwardly toward the ends |21 thereof so that liquid moving through the channel |I4 has a tendency to wash dirt and other foreign matter toward the ends thereof to prevent clogging of the channel.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred 4form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

1. In a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart carlines, a refrigerant container disposed therebetween and means to support said vcontainer comprising a plurality of spaced apart U- shaped members, each comprising a brace underlying the bottom of said container and spaced apart upstanding arms adjacent the opposite walls of said container, purlins extending between and secured to said U-shaped members and means to secure the ends of said purlins to said carlines.

A2. In a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart carlines, a refrigerant container disposed therebetween and means to support said container comprising a plurality of spaced apart U-shaped members, each comprising a brace underlying the bottom of said container and spaced apart upstanding arms adjacent the opposite walls of said container and being secured thereto, purlins extending between and secured to said U-shaped members vand means to secure the ends of said purlins to said carlines.

3. In a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart carlines, a refrigerant container disposed therebetween and means to support said container comprising a plurality of spaced apart U -shaped members, each comprising a brace underlying the bottom of said container and spaced apart upstanding arms adjacent the opposite walls of said container, purlins extending between and secured to said U-shaped members and means to secure the ends of said purlins t said carlines, said arms and said container walls being divergent upwardly so that the container settles in said U-shaped members due to its own weight.

4. In a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart carlines, a refrigerant container disposed therebetween and means to support said container comprising a plurality of spaced apart vU-shaped members, each comprising a brace underlying the bottom of said container and spaced apart upstanding arms adjacent the opposite `walls of said container, purlins extending between and secured to the upper parts of said arms, and means to secure the ends of said purlins to said carlines.

5. In 'a refrigerator car having a pair 0f spaced apart carlines, a refrigerant container disposed 4therebetween and Vmeans to support said container comprising a plurality of spaced apart U-shaped members, each comprising a brace underlying the bottom of said container and spaced -a'part upstanding arms adjacent the opposite Vwalls of said container, purlins extending between and secured to said U-shaped members -adjacent the junctions of said brace and said arms, kand means to secure the ends of said 'purflins to said carlines.

'6. A refrigerant container adapted for use in a refrigerator car comprising a bottom and spaced apart vside and end walls, and reinforcing means 'for said container comprising aU-shaped member having a brace underlying said bottom and vupstanding spaced apart arms disposed adjacent certain of said sides.

7. I n a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart carlines, a refrigerant container disposed therebetween and means to support said conytainer comprising a plurality of spaced apart U-shape members each compri-sing a brace underlying the bottom of the container and spaced apart upstanding arms adjacent the opposite vwalls of said container, a substantially vertical baille within said container extending transversely to said braces and comprising an inverted channel member secured at both flanges thereof to said bottom, purlins extending between and secured to said U-shape members, and means to attach the ends of said purlins to said carlines.

8. A refrigerant container for use in a refrigerator car comprising a pair of spaced apart, longitudinally extending purlins, a plurality of longitudinally spaced U-shaped members each including spaced apart, upstanding arms, and means to secure the upper parts of the arms of said members to said purlins, the container bottom and lower parts of the container sides being supported by said U-shaped members.

9. A refrigerator container for use in a refrigerator car comprising a pair of spaced apart, longitudinally extending purlins, a plurality of longitudinally spaced U-shaped members each including spaced apart, upstanding arms, and means to secure the upper parts of the arms of said members to said purlins, the container bottom and lower parts of the container sides being confined within and supported by said U-shaped members.

l0. In avrefrigeratorcar having a pair of spaced apart carlines, a refrigerant container disposed therebetween, and means to support said container comprising a plurality of spaced apart U-shape members, each comprising a brace underlying the bottom of the container and spaced apart upstanding arms adjacent the opposite walls of said container, a substantially Vertical baffle Within said container extending transversely to said braces and secured to said bottom, purlins extending between and secured to said U-shape members, and means to attach the ends of said purlins to said carlines.

11. In a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart carlines, a refrigerant container disposed therebetween, and means to support said container comprising a plurality of spaced apart U-shape members, each comprising a brace underlying the bottom of the container and spaced apart upstanding arms adjacent the opposite walls `of said container, a substantially vertical baie within said container extending transversely to said braces and comprising an inverted channel member with closed ends and secured to said bottom, purlins extending between and secured to said U-shape members, and means to attach the ends of said purlins to said carlines,

the part of said bottom disposed below thechaninga pair of spaced apart purlins and U-shape members secured to and supported by said purlins, said tank resting in said cradle with the sides and bottom `thereof engaging portions of said cradle, and means associated with said vcradle to prevent relative movement between the tank and cradle in a direction parallel with the purlins.

CHARLES D. BONSALL. 

